Final answer:
In ancient Athens, neglecting public duties or being unable to escape poverty was frowned upon. Athenians were expected to be active participants in civic life, as reforms by leaders like Solon and Pericles encouraged public service and societal engagement.
Step-by-step explanation:
In ancient Athens, public duty was seen as essential to the function of the state, and citizens were expected to partake in civic life. Athenians viewed someone who shirked his public duties or failed to escape poverty negatively, often as lacking in civic virtue and responsibility. The societal structure, heavily influenced by Solon's laws, aimed to mitigate extreme poverty and encourage participation in public affairs. Civic engagement was so important that figures like Socrates and Pericles exemplified the Athenian ideals of public service and participation.
Pericles' reforms were particularly significant as they allowed even the poorest citizens, the thetes, to hold public office, emphasizing the value of civic involvement over wealth or birthright. This period also saw the development of what Greeks considered the pursuit of excellence, where public performance and reputation were of great importance, and the fear of shame was a motivating factor in cultivating personal virtue. Those who neglected their societal roles risked not only poverty but also public humiliation and censure.
Overall, Athenians were expected to avoid poverty, contribute to society, and perform their public duties with excellence, honouring the written laws that were made visible to all in efforts to create an informed and participatory civil structure led by figures like Solon and Pericles.